Condiment measuring device



March 3 1970 P. G. LE MAY 3,498,136

CONDIMENT MEASURING DEVICE Filed March 18. 1968 /V' I /7 l' i i! 24 i i l N VEN TOR.

United States Patent O 3,498,136 CONDIMENT MEASURING DEVICE Philip G. Le May, 38 High St., Lebanon, N.H. 03766 Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 713,754 Int. Cl. G01f 19/00 U.S. Cl. 73-426 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A dispenser having a base, top 'wall and La cover within |which are carried a plurality of diiferent sized containers which hold a -specic amount of condiments. In the center of the apparatus is included .a shaft which extends albove the cover of the apparatus and push buttons on the upper end of the locking rod serves to release any one of the radially spaced apart containers in order that they may be remove-d therefrom.

This invention relates to measuring devices, m-ore particularly to a kitchen dispenser apparatus.

It is therefore the main purpose of thi-s invention to provide a condiment measuring device which will be portable and will contain a plurality of radially spaced apart removable containers of various sizes. These containers serve to contain a specic quantity of a condiment which may -be selected at random for a specific lamount desired for use in the kitchen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a condiment measuring device which will have arrow-shaped locking rods to which are attached 'and extending above the cover, push buttons, each push button Iallow-ing for the release of the bottom portion of lthe lock rod-s from a recess in the bottom of its associated removable container.

A lfurther object of this invention is to provide a condiment lmeasuring device which have a spherical top on the end of a central shaft thus allowing for the rotation of said apparatus.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a condiment measuring device which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of 'the ,following specification Iand accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is atop plan view of the device showing the cover removed therefrom;

FIGURE 2 Iis a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing the lid, the method of revolving the device, and two containers in position and the method of releasing them;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective View of one of kthe containers shown removed from the instant invention.

According to this invention, a condiment measuring device is provided with a circular base member -11 t0 which are attached a plurality of legs 12 for supporting device 10. On top of base member 11 is secured a plastic disc 13 which is provided with a central recess 14 for a purpose hereinafter will be described. Device 10 is also provided with a top wall .15 of circular configuration. A plurality of different sized containers 16 are radial-ly -adjacent to each other 'and are of such structure so as to hold a specific amount of condiments. Each of containers 16 are provided with angular extending handles y17 allowing for the easy release of any one of the containers 16.

A central shaft 18 is carried vertically within device :10 and pro-vided with a flange 19 on its lower extremity which bears against the outside of base member 11 and the top 20 of shaft 18 is spherical in configuration to allow for easy handle grip means to rotate the device 10.

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Shaft I18 =also extends upward through cover 21 as does a plurality of L-shaped conligurated locking rods 22. The lower extremity of locking rods 22 are provided in the recess 14 with ba-ll-shaped ends 23 which rest in the recesses 24 in the bottom of containers 16, these rods -22 serve to allow container 16 to remain stationary within device :10 until it i-s desired to release them. The upper extremity of locking -rods 22 carry coil springs 25 the lower portion of which bear against flanges 26 of bottom rods 22. The upper extremity of locking rods 22 are provided with push butons 27 which extend above cover 21 and provide a means -for releasing the container 16.

It will be noted that the upper extremity of shaft 18 is -received through opening 28 of cover 21.

lIn use, a container 16 holding the specific -amount desired by the user, is released 'by pressing down upon the push button 27 above that container 16, the downward pressure releasing the ball end 23 from the recess 24 of that specific container |16, thus allowing the 4user to remove that container 16 by pulling upon the handle 17. It is also to be noted that recess l14 serves to provide a clearance for the downward movement of rod 22. When the push button 27 is released the spring 25 thus returns the locking rod 22 to its full upward position. After emptying the contents from the removed container 16, it may easily replaced by yurging ldown upon the associated push button 27 and sliding the container w16 inward of device 10, after Iwhich push button 27 is then released which allows the ball end 23 of the locking rods 22 to engage the recess 24 of container 16. The top wall and the bottom disc comprise guides between which the containers are slidalble.

lWhile various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What I now claim is:

1. A eondiment measuring device, comprising in cornbin-ation, a circular base member, a plurality of supporting legs carried by said base member, a plastic disc portion carried by said base member, -a plurality of radially adjacent removable containers of various sizes, .a top wall carried by said device providing closure means and with said bottom disc comprising the guide means rfor saidremovable containers, a plurality of L-shaped locking rods carried by said device with bush 'button means for urging them downwardly, a plurality lof coil spring carried within said device providing return means for the locking portion of said device, said containers of said device each holding Za specific amount of condiments in a measured quantity and s-aid containers being slideable upon a top sur-face of said plastic disc, said containers being slideable between an underside of said top wall and an upper side of said plastic disc, each of said containers being provided with a projecting handle portion, said handle portion allowing fo-r the gripping with the hands of the user in lorder to slide said containers -irom within said device, the bottom portion of said containers being provided with a recess for receiving the ball end of said L- shaped locking rods, said locking rods lwhen depressed by means of the push buttons extending above the cover of said device 1disengaging said ball end from the recessed area of said containers in order that said container may be withdrawn from said device 'by means of -said handles off said containers, and each of said containers being provided with a separate locking rod and Iassociated push Ibutton extending above the cover of said device for said disengaging, said locking rod being -radially spaced apart around the vertical axis of a central shaft, said central shaft being provided with a spherical upper portion extending above the cover of said device in order to be grasped by the user for rotating of said device, and the upper portions of said locking rods receiving said coil 3 springs, said coil springs providing return means to -the upward position of said locking rods in'order to engage the recess under each of sai'd containers in order to lock said containers in place when not in use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Carene 222-144 X 10 31 Kartyshai 222-144 X Miller 73-429 Wilkinson et al. 206-16` Anderson 206-116`X 5 LOUIS IR. PRINCE, Primary Examiner D. M. YASICH, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 

